Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a house assessment performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Plimmerton rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Plimmerton rental properties.

Start now and call about the Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Plimmerton

Rental properties in Plimmerton require a reliable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Every living space of a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Plimmerton

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Plimmerton include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.